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Light, Love, Hope

Light in the Darkness Surrounded by Love with Hope for those in need.

Are You Who You Want To Be?

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As I was listening to RDIO.COM at work this morning, the song I’m A Survivor by Reba McEntire came on.  It was a popular song a few years ago and was the theme song for her self-entitled television show.  But, have you ever really stopped to consider what this song is actually saying?

She was born too early and wasn’t given much of a chance, but she is a survivor and will keep on living.  In the song, she’s a single mother with two children that works really hard and loves her children so much.

Something that really struck me are the words of the song:  Who I am is who I wanna be …

It got me to thinking, and so I pose this question to my readers today.  Are you who you want to be?

Think on that for a few minutes.

If you are NOT who you want to be at this stage of the game, what is stopping you from being all that you can be?  Is there a way that you can make a change that will lead you to where you’d like to be?  Would you consider setting a goal and then putting steps into place for you to achieve this goal?

It doesn’t have to be any major life changes, just little things that you can work toward.  It is possible.  Just don’t think you can make a change over night.  Give yourself time to think on this, pray about it, and seek God in ALL things.  Then, set your plan into motion.

You CAN be who you want to be … and love every fiber that makes you who you are!

 

Equestrian Ministries

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If you have been with us for any length of time, you know that we have a special fondness and love for gentle giants, aka horses! These massive creatures leave us in awe each time as we watch them in all of their greatness and marvel at these gorgeous animals that God has given us.

Here at Light Love Hope we strive to share the message of God’s light in the dark world that we are living in, His unconditional, never ending love for us, and hope for a future and for eternal life in Heaven with Him!

Last year we became horse owners.  It is something that we have always dreamed of and had an interest in, but we hadn’t taken that step.  When we did, though, we jumped in with both feet into horse ownership and now have two paint horses, a dark bay quarter horse, a pinto pony, and a Shetland pony.  We feel we have a good mix, and oh boy do we love to gaze out at them in our yard as they are grazing.

Our HorsesDuring this past year as we’ve adjusted to life on the ranch tending to our beauties, we wondered if there was a way to incorporate the two things that our family is passionate about: Jesus Christ and our horses. After researching this topic, we found that there IS a way to do both, and so we have just recently joined the Equestrian Ministries in our state!

What, exactly, is the Equestrian Ministries and what do we do?  We are a nonprofit, nondenominational organization consisting of individuals and fellowships throughout the state that have united under a mutually agreed upon statement of faith for the purpose of fellowship and ministry to our local communities. We believe there is one God who exists in three persons:  the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  We believe in the Bible and the words that God has given us to live by.  We believe in the virgin birth of Jesus, that He walked the face of this earth and lived a sinless life.  We believe He performed miracles, and we believe that He died on the cross for all of our sins so that we may have eternal life through Him.  We believe that He rose from the dead, is now in Heaven, and that one day soon, He will come back for His children.  We also believe that we were made in the image of God, but we have been corrupted by the sin in the world.  However, there is still hope for lost souls if they believe in Jesus, have faith in Him, and ask Him into their hearts.  Their sins will be washed away, and they will have the gift of Eternal Life through Jesus Christ!

We are very excited as we embark on this new journey with the Equestrian Ministries.  We ask for prayer as we reach out to those in the community.  Everyone needs Jesus, even people that ride horses!  Why not try to reach as many people as we can, in whatever ways that we can?  That is what we are here on this earth to do – to share Jesus with lost souls.

Shirley and Arizona

Joining the Equestrian Ministries wasn’t just a move to ensure that we get to go trail riding. No, no, no.  It’s a much bigger picture than this.  Sure, we love trail riding like the next horse person, but it’s about believers coming together to share the message of Jesus.  Do I like the fact that we will be camping out and riding the trails with people of faith?  Yes!  Absolutely!  I don’t have to worry about what my ten year old will be subjected to while on a trail ride now, nor do I have to worry about conversation around the camp fire.  I have the assurance with the company that we will be keeping that there won’t be anything that her little eyes shouldn’t see or her little ears shouldn’t hear.

Tiff and Daddy

But, there’s more.

My daughters will get to share in this with us as much as they would like to be involved.  We will use our horses not just for pleasure, enjoyment, and the thrill of the ride.  Now we will be using the strong and mighty creatures that God has given us for His Honor and His Glory as we try to lead people to Christ.

Pray for us as we embark on this new journey.

 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 After writing this post, I saw where Karen used the prompt word “Dream” for Tuesday At Ten.  It seems to fit right in with our post, so I am sharing it on her blog as well for the link up today.   Join us!

Jesus Sees Me

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We are taught this, and we know this going through life.  Jesus sees us all.  He knows us inside and out.  God made us with His own hands, and He knows the number of hairs we have on our heads.  He knows things about us that sometimes we wish He didn’t know and didn’t see.

How did we learn this, though?  We were taught this as small children growing up in the church.  This was instilled in is.

As we grew more mature and into adulthood, we understood that Jesus wants a personal relationship with us.  Yes, we are to come to Him to ask for forgiveness, which He will grant if we are sincere, repent, and turn away from our sins.  If we believe in Him, confess Him as Lord and Savior, Jesus comes to live inside of our hearts, and we are promised the gift of eternal life through Him.  Jesus died on the cross for you and for me.

Some times, though, it is hard for little children to grasp the entire concept of Jesus, an invisible man that they are told to trust that watches over them.  We have faith although we cannot see Jesus walking the earth.  We know He is in Heaven, and we are to trust in Him and believe in Him.  We have faith in someone we have never seen before, but we can feel His presence so strongly at times in our lives.  I know I have!

What if you had a tool to help make Jesus more real to your little ones?  Do you think it would help them to grasp the concept of Jesus more easily if they had something tangible to hold on to?  While I know we have crosses that we can give to our little ones to hold that represent Jesus dying on the cross to give us eternal life, I have just recently come across a Jesus Sees Me Doll.  When I saw it, I knew that my daughter would love to have one.  She enjoys playing with Barbie dolls and regular baby dolls, so I thought why not an actual doll that will teach her about Jesus … with none other than a Jesus doll at that?!

This Jesus Sees Us Doll came with a book that my daughter could not wait to read.  She held Jesus in her hands, hugged Him tight, and then sat down with Jesus to read through this book.  She liked it so much that she took Jesus to school with her!  My daughter attends a Christian school and was so excited to be able to share the Jesus doll and book with her friends.  How perfect right before Easter, too!  The doll and book may have been invented with preschool aged children in mind, but my ten year old and her fellow classmates LOVED the concept behind it all.  The teacher had never seen anything like it before either, and she really liked it as well.  I think that says a lot.

My daughter gets scared at night as most children do in their childhood.  Whether they are afraid of the dark, despite the night light shining in their rooms, or whether they are afraid that monsters live under their beds, it brought my daughter great comfort to know that Jesus was with her.   She said it helped her to feel safer.  While she knows that this is just a doll and that the real Jesus is watching over her in Heaven, it did comfort her to be able to snuggle into bed with Jesus right beside her to help her have pleasant dreams.  She even carried Jesus with us to Chick-Fil-A recently to eat and watched television with Jesus right beside her.  She positioned Jesus just right so He could have a good view of the movie they were both watching.  That was very sweet!
Jesus Sees Me

 

Jesus Sees Me Doll

If you are not sure what to get your children for their Easter basket this year, why not consider a Jesus Sees Me Doll?  It is a tangible item that they can hold in their hands and arms to make Jesus real to them.  Yes, share the stories of Jesus in the bible, and yes, make sure they know the real Jesus … but what better doll can they possibly be playing with than a Jesus doll?  Think about it!  For us, it was the perfect gift, and her little eyes lit right up, quickly followed by taking Jesus into her arms to give Him a big hug.

The one thing my daughter did notice about this doll is that they did not have holes in His hands or feet where they nailed Him to the cross.  She commented that Jesus would have scars on His hands and feet due to how He suffered on the cross for our sins.  She’s right!  That is the only thing I noticed about the doll, too.  Other than that, the doll was perfect.  His arms are outstretched welcoming your little one to embrace Jesus, and His little sandals on His feet are just precious.  I enjoyed looking at the Jesus doll and reading the book myself!

What a great tool to make Jesus real to your little ones!  While we don’t want them to have any idols, we just have to explain to them that this doll is not the real Jesus, just like the man in the Jesus movies are not the real Jesus either.  They will understand this, and it will still comfort them to have the Jesus doll by their side.  They could even have this doll propped up as they kneel down beside their beds at night to say their prayers to the real Jesus in Heaven.

I think this Jesus doll is a great reminder that Jesus is always with them watching over them.  Consider getting your child a Jesus Sees Me doll for their Easter basket this year!

 

A special thanks to Fly By Productions and Jesus Sees Me for a courtesy Jesus Doll.

“Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

I’m Gonna Love You Through It

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It was a cold night with the wind whipping outside her windows.  As she got into bed, she pulled the covers up really high over her as she snuggled into the fitted sheet beneath her.  Tugging once more on the heavy covers, she lost her grip and her fist rammed against her chest.  After feeling the initial pain, it soon subsided enough for her to get some much needed sleep that night.

Over the course of the next couple of days, she found a lump as she was showering.  Fear and panic set in, and soon a call was made to the doctor for an appointment.  Remembering the incident on that cold Winter’s night, she feared that she caused this due to the blow to her chest.  The doctor soon reassured her that wasn’t the case but sent her to a specialist for a more thorough examination.  After being sent for a biopsy, we waited for the results … days that seemed more like years …

In the meantime, our local Relay For Life was going on.  That Friday evening, I heard Martina McBride’s song for the very first time.

She dropped the phone and burst into tears
The doctor just confirmed her fears
Her husband held it in and held her tight
Cancer don’t discriminate or care if you’re just 38
With three kids who need you in their lives
He said, “I know that you’re afraid and I am, too
But you’ll never be alone, I promise you”

When you’re weak, I’ll be strong
When you let go, I’ll hold on
When you need to cry, I swear
That I’ll be there to dry your eyes
When you feel lost and scared to death,
Like you can’t take one more step
Just take my hand, together we can do it
I’m gonna love you through it.

She made it through the surgery fine
They said they caught it just in time
But they had to take more than they planned
Now it’s forced smiles and baggy shirts
To hide what the cancer took from her
But she just wants to feel like a woman again
She said, “I don’t think I can do this anymore”
He took her in his arms and said
“That’s what my love is for”

When you’re weak, I’ll be strong
When you let go, I’ll hold on
When you need to cry, I swear
That I’ll be there to dry your eyes
When you feel lost and scared to death,
Like you can’t take one more step
Just take my hand, together we can do it
I’m gonna love you through it.

And when this road gets too long
I’ll be the rock you lean on
Just take my hand, together we can do it
I’m gonna love you through it.
I’m gonna love you through it.

I sat under the vast sky with only the stage lights on as the young lady sang her version of this song.  Tears filled my eyes and soon spilled over making their way down my cheeks as I thought of my mother who was awaiting the results of the biopsy.

Days later, our lives were changed when she received the diagnosis:  breast cancer.  While she did not cause the breast cancer due to the blow to the chest, that is what caused her to FIND the lump.  Otherwise, she never would have felt in that spot, almost directly between her breasts but more so on her left side.

We gathered all of the information needed to make a decision about her treatment, and after consulting with the doctor, he agreed that a lumpectomy was all that was needed.  All?  As if that wasn’t significant to a woman who would have pieces of her flesh cut away while she and her family prayed that the cancer was contained and had not spread!  That was ALL that was needed.  That is HUGE to hear that you require ANY type of surgery!

The day came, and we gathered beside my mother’s hospital bed where she laid so quietly.  She had her little hospital gown on as well as one of those “hats” they place on your hair.  I tried to keep the moment light, even though I knew our hearts were all heavy.  I took a picture of my mother and teased her that she was rocking that cap.  I still have that picture today.

They wheeled my mother away to the operating room, with us walking along with them as far as they would allow.  There came a point where we could not go with her, and we tried to remain strong as they rolled her out of sight.

Tears fill my eyes now as I think of this moment in time.

We went back to the waiting room where silent prayers were lifted up to Heaven on my mother’s behalf.  Martina McBride’s song was still ringing in my ears.

I’m gonna love you through it!

How very powerful … and such truth!

No matter what, I knew that my family and I would love my mother through this.

They updated us on her progress during the operation, and soon we were able to see her in recovery.  When she was released from the hospital, we still had to wait on the results from the lab on the margin and the lymph nodes they removed as well.

Days went by until we finally received the news!  Thankfully, it appeared that the cancer was contained, and she would NOT need further surgery nor would she need chemo!  Praises went up flooding Heaven thanking God for this wonderful news.  While my mother still had to go through radiation, it was much, much better than having to endure chemo.  We were thankful … oh so thankful!

My mother’s radiation treatment was going along smoothly until she developed an infection.  It was uncomfortable until they were able to get it under control.  She finished her treatments and is now on a pill that she will take for five years to keep the cancer from coming back.  We pray … oh how we pray … that she will remain cancer free!

My heart goes out to any one that has ever had to go through this themselves … or whether you’ve watched, prayed, and loved your friends or family members through it.  When you felt as if you could not do anything for that person … you did!  You prayed!  AND you loved them through it all … their worries and concerns that lead to the doctor visit, their diagnosis, and then the treatment … you loved them through it all … and THAT is what they need most.  Your love, support, and prayers!

Blessed

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Did you wear your green today?  After all, it was St. Patrick’s Day.  Do you have the luck of the Irish with you?

When things happen in life, a lot of times people will say how lucky you are.  Me?   I say, “I’m not lucky, I’m blessed!”

God has poured out His blessings upon my life and my family.  That is not to say that my life has always been a bed of roses, because it certainly hasn’t.  I have had my fair share of troubles in this life.  But, I am choosing to look up and thank God for life!

It is a privilege to be here on this earth.  God woke me up this morning, and I am so thankful to Him because it is another day that I get to spend with my family making memories.  It is another day that I get to love on and ride my horses.

I don’t take any of this for granted.

I appreciate each and every minute that God gives me.

There are so many that don’t get to grow older.  Their time here on this earth was cut short, and only God knows why.  My sister, Pamela, is a prime example, as is Greg’s sister, Julia.  We don’t understand why they had to leave when they did, but God knows.  He called them both home, and I believe that they are with Jesus today in Heaven.

Just this afternoon, despite my ten year old getting sick and tossing her cookies at school, I had such joy as my husband got off work early to help build another horse pasture.  My daughter, who was feeling much better by this time, was playing basketball and pretending she was Maddie off of a show called Liv & Maddie.  She would exclaim, “Bam! What!” each time she scored, just like Maddie does on this television show.  I got to watch that.  I got to hear her cute little voice raised high as she excitedly celebrated making it into her make-believe hoop (no, we haven’t yet put one up because we can’t find JUST the hoop … and we don’t need the whole structure with the base, pole, and hoop).

My point in all of this is that I got to witness this.  I was the one that had the honor of looking at my darling daughter’s face as she smiled shyly after she realized I not only heard her but was watching her play the entire time.

No, I’m not lucky to get these memories-in-the-making or these precious moments with my daughter … I am BLESSED!

I had the chance to go alongside my husband to help build this new pasture and pull the fencing tight to ensure the horses didn’t escape from their new home.  It was hard work, but I was the one standing next to him pulling the fencing.  I shared this moment with him, and we got to bask in the glow of the fruits of our labor when we put two of our horses in the new pasture after our project was complete.  We did this.  We were blessed to be able to make a new pasture for them and work together to accomplish what we did tonight.

And, I am blessed to share little moments with my now-adult-daughter!  She’s 18 now, and I know that my time with her at home is coming to a close in the next few, short years.  I am not prepared for this, yet I know it is approaching sooner than I care to think about.  Until then, though, I get to tease her, just as she loves to tease me, and we get to share inside jokes together that we just smirk over and some times just bust right out laughing because it’s something that only she and I know about.

Oh yes, I am blessed, even though she only wants to focus on her bands and not her future and what she’s going to do when she graduates in May … as frustrating as it all can be at times … I am still blessed, and I thank God for these moments with her.

I thank God for allowing me to be present and in her life all of these years.  I have always prayed that God would allow me to be here for both of my children as they grow up and to allow me to see them graduate, go to college, get married, and have children of their own.  I have often said that I want to be an old lady rocking her great-great-grandbabies on her front porch.  And I still want that!  I want to be in good health so that I am able to help my children with their children and things around their house.  I pray that God will grant this as it is my heart’s desire to be here for my children, and I do pray that God will allow me to be healthy for many, many, many years to come in order to lend a helping hand when needed as they become independent and start lives of their own.

When so many grumble about turning another year older, I count it a blessing to be here all of my 43 years and beg God for 43 more!  No, there won’t be any grumbling or complaining about turning another year older for me.  I’ll be thanking God for one more year with my family and pleading for many more years to come.

So on this St. Patrick’s Day, I’m not lucky … I am BLESSED completely and totally by GOD above!  And I thank Him.  Oh how I thank Him for ALL of the many blessings in my life.

Blessed

Do Unto Others

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Growing up I heard this a lot:  Do unto others as you would have done to you.  The “Golden Rule” to live by!   In fact, did you know that not only is this the “Golden Rule,” but it is biblical, too!  It truly is.  Luke 6:31 is where Jesus says, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

Sadly, it seems that the vast majority of people were not taught this in their childhood, or they let it fly out the window as they became adults.

It truly is sad the way that people treat other people in this day and age.  This week I was told about an ex-girlfriend that set the guy up in a situation, he fell for it, and she, then, walked right up to him and slapped him across the face. What makes people think that it is okay to put their hand on another human being?  I don’t care how angry she was over the situation, she had no right to lay a single finger on him.

Then, I experienced ill treatment this week myself.  No, no one slapped me across the face, thankfully, but I have been discriminated against more times than I care to remember.  I hear a lot of African American people that talk about racism, but it goes both ways!  Whites can be prejudice against Blacks, just as Blacks can be prejudice against Whites!  I was on the receiving end of it once again this week!  Allow me to tell you about it.

My daughter and I spent the afternoon together shopping for a prom dress for her upcoming Senior prom.  We were having a wonderful day together.  After having lunch and laughing over the silliest of things, we walked through the parking lot with the sun beating down on us … a much welcomed change since it has been so cold here!

My daughter spotted a Cinderella type dress in the window that she wanted to try on.  Upon walking into the store, we noticed that we were the only white people in there.  The owners and workers were all black, as were the few customers that were in the building.  That did not bother me at all, though.  We went about our business looking at different dresses for her to try on, but they only had ONE Cinderella type dress; the one in the window!  So, I asked the lady behind the counter if my daughter could try it on.  I was ignored three times until I insisted once more to get someone to acknowledge me and respond.  Finally, a lady did, but she would not make eye contact with me.  She opened her mouth to talk to me but continued as if she was preoccupied with that scarf she had in her hand.  She fingered the corners of the lace and satin cloth as she shifted it here and there, never raising her eyes to meet mine, as she said, “Before we take it off the rack” … long drawn out pause …”Can you afford it, Mom?”  

Hold on just a minute!  First of all, we were already feeling discriminated against because no one would acknowledge us when I was speaking … and now this?  How did she think that was okay?  It was as if she, without making eye contact, had summed me up upon my entry into her store.  It was as if she thought I was white trash or something that couldn’t possibly afford anything in HER store.

I have had people tell me that I should have walked out right that minute.  You know what I did, though?  Trying to wipe the shocked look off of my face, I asked her how much the dress cost.  Still never making eye contact, she said with a if-you-have-to-ask-you-can’t-afford-it-tone, “It is …” again, long drawn out pause … “$325.00 … three hundred … twenty … five … dollars,” she emphasized.

I never skipped a beat when I said that yes, we could certainly afford that!

Between you and I, do I want to spend that much on a dress that my daughter will only wear one time?  NO!  But, it isn’t that I can’t afford it.  It’s more along the lines of being practical.

Back to my story.

Finally the lady that would not even so much as look me in my face told another lady to get the dress for my daughter to try on.  We took our time, and I made sure to get pictures of my daughter in the dress for her to look back on later to decide if she was going to say yes to the dress!

After we took our time in the shop, I did ask how long it would take to get the dress in if we decided to order.  I thanked the ladies, and we walked back to our car a bit deflated over the whole experience.

We went to another shop in town, though, and were treated much, MUCH, differently!  And … the same exact dress at this shop was $275.00 so not only was the other store much ruder … but they padded the price.  I wonder if they did that just because of the color of our skin!

Then today …

My daughter is graduating in May, and her wish for a graduation present is to go to Canada.  She has a lot of Canadian friends, and I have a friend that lives there as well.  So, we looked into the trip and found that it wasn’t as outrageous as we once thought.  We considered driving, but 14 hours in a car with two children isn’t appealing.  We will now fly there instead.  To do this, though, we needed to get new passports for my daughters as theirs expired in 2013.

We went to the post office today to complete the paperwork for new passports only to be greeted by an African American woman who let it be known immediately that she was going to mistreat any person that did not have her same skin color.  It was so obvious from the time we stepped foot into the post office until the time we left.  Not only did she have an attitude with us, but we witnessed this with every white person that came into the building.  It was a small post office, and this lady was the only one working the counter.  She mistreated all whites while catering to those of her same skin color.  Remember when I said that racism goes both ways?  IT DOES!  IT is NOT just whites that can be racist … this is now two incidents in just a week’s time where I feel racism has reared its ugly head.

It matters how you treat people.  It truly does!  DO UNTO OTHERS … keep that in mind … AS YOU WOULD HAVE DONE TO YOU!

If a white person had treated the black people the way WE were treated in both of the above situations that I described, they would be yelling that we were racist, prejudice, and on and on.  BUT WE ARE NOT and never have been.  I do not care what color skin you have.  I truly don’t!  Some of my best friends are black, and I love them dearly!

I know there are some that are still holding on to what the white men did to the blacks back in the slave days.  Those days are OVER, though.  And, I wasn’t around when that was happening.  I bet the people that are still in that mind set today and are holding a grudge against ALL whites were not around during that time period either.  So why treat us this way now?  We did not have slaves.  We did not have any thing to do with what happened to your ancestors.  Why hold something beyond our control and in another era against us NOW?

WE ARE ALL MADE BY GOD ABOVE!  Just like the song says:  “Red and yellow, black and white … they are precious in His sight … Jesus loves the little children of the world.”  

NEWSFLASH!  WE ARE ALL HIS CHILDREN!  NO matter what our skin color, HE formed YOU … HE formed ME … He formed EVERY ONE just the way He wanted them to be and the color HE wanted them to be as well.

WHY can’t we all just get along and put racism behind us once and for all?  Why can’t we all go back to the Golden Rule and just start treating each other BETTER and with more respect?

What a wonderful world it would be!

 

A Very Special Day

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Today is a very special day!  We are celebrating the birthday of the man, the myth, the legend … Gregory C. Johnson!  He handles all of the technical aspects of this site and is THE computer guru!  Mr. Johnson is a talented writer, and I encourage him to write as often as I can!  He has also been a valued friend of the family for 17 years.

I think we should make this Gregory C. Johnson day!

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Greg, we hope you have a wonderful birthday.

Horsing Around

Lots of love and blessings from everyone here at Light Love Hope!

 

Love Yourself God's Creation

 

 

I’ll Be By Your Side

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A few years ago the interpretive ministries group that I was a part of at church performed sign art (American Sign Language)  to a popular song by Tenth Avenue North.  I’ll never forget the concert benefit that we were ministering at.  It was a benefit for my daughter’s friend that was diagnosed with cancer.

The year was 2009, and my daughter came home from school in the Sixth Grade to tell me that her friend was just diagnosed with cancer.  She had a desire to help her friend, and so we approached our pastor asking just how we, as the church, could help.  That is when he said that he would support our efforts in whatever fundraisers that we would like to put on for her family.  With his stamp of approval on our ideas, we started working on several fundraisers.  Several people joined in on our efforts, including Gregory C. Johnson, your co-host for Light Love Hope.  He came all the way from Illinois to the South for a car wash fundraiser he helped organize with tee-shirts he purchased for this event that had a red heart on the front with two outstretched hands cupped together in front of the heart with the words “Help Sidney” across the bottom.  And Help Sidney we did!

The concert benefit was part of the Help Sidney efforts, and at this concert benefit, my daughter and I stood at the edge of the stage with the rest of our interpretive movement team behind us as we signed …

I’ll be by your side

Whereever you fall

In the dead of night

Whenever you call

Please don’t fight

These Hands that are holding you 

We signed with all of our might that night at the concert benefit.  When it came to this next part, we especially put our heart and soul into it …

Cause I

I love you

I want you

To know 

I …

I love you

I’ll never

Let  

You

Go 

No, no

And He won’t.  No matter what you are facing, God will never let you go!  He loves you with a love so powerful, unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before.  And He always will.  There is nothing you can do that will make God love you any less.

Just as God was by Sidney’s side throughout her cancer treatments when she was struggling so, I’m pleased to report that she made a full recovery and is in remission!  Just as God was right there beside Sidney, He is right there beside you every step of the way, too!  He will never leave your side.  He will catch you when you fall, wherever you fall … in the dead of night, cry out to Him, and He will be there when you call upon Him … PLEASE don’t fight God’s Great and Mighty Hands.  Allow Him to wrap His loving arms around you and hold you.

Take His hand, sweet child.  You won’t regret it!

Gather

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Excitement welled up inside of me when I learned that the Five Minute Friday writers are having a retreat!  Yes, that’s right!  When we usually gather together on Fridays where we write for five whole minutes without worrying about getting it just right, NOW we will have the opportunity to meet in person!

The Five Minute Friday community has grown so much, and it is an exciting time as we think of finally meeting up!  Taking it from the internet, from our blogs, from our Twitter parties, Facebook, and now live and in person!  Wow!

I know I’m not the only one that is checking their schedules, looking at the location and seeing just how far it really is from where they live.  Wondering if this is really happening and something that is do-able.

The location, we’ve learned, is just outside of Nashville, Tennessee.  The weekend is August 7-9, 2015 with more details to come from Kate.  It would be amazing to gather all of the Five Minute Friday writers together for one weekend!  I imagine there will be lots of laughter that weekend as well as writing since that is something we all love to do.

Imagine the possibilities of getting all of the writers together.  As we gather together, we could share ideas and bounce things off of each other.

With one daughter going into Fifth grade and the other into college in August, I’m not completely sure at this point that I can attend.  But, I’ll certainly try!  AND I encourage you all to attend as well.  If you’ve ever written or been interested in Five Minute Fridays from when Lisa-Jo Baker hosted it and now since Kate has taken over, I encourage you to think of gathering with all of the writers.  You will not be disappointed!

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This post was most definitely inspired by the prompt word of Gather for this edition of Five Minute Friday at Kate’s virtual house.

What Kind of Fruit Are You Bearing?

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Jesus explains in the bible in Matthew that a tree is known by its fruit.  Whereas a diseased tree will bear bad fruit, a malnourished or immature tree will not bear any fruit at all.  This can also apply to our daily lives.  Our thoughts bear fruit whether we realize it or not.  If you have good thoughts, your outlook on life will be good.  Just as if you think bad thoughts, your outlook on life will soon follow in a negative fashion.

If you look closely at people around you, you will know what thought process is driving their life.  If they have a terrible attitude, you know they can’t have pleasant thoughts rolling around in their head.  If you see a person that is sweet, kind, and caring, you know the thoughts they are having must be really good ones because it shows in their actions towards others.

People are watching you whether you take notice or not.  They are noticing everything that you are doing and what example you are setting for those around you.  If you say one thing but live in a different fashion, they will notice immediately.

Something that has struck me is conversations people have about Christians. I’ve heard it said that people will not want what we have (God) if we are constantly walking around with a sad look on our faces.  Likewise, who will want to live like us if they hear nothing but negative things coming out of our mouths?  If we are Christians, WHY the bad attitude?  I realize that things won’t always be joyful and happy in your life.  Things happen, and we are just forced to deal with them the best way we know how at times.  God is right there with us through it all, though, and our strength comes from Him.  We are to praise Him in all things.  That is so hard to do when you’re walking through a valley in your life, but your attitude and mindset can shift if you just lift up your voice in praise to God.  What you’re going through is temporary.  It will soon pass.  Maybe not as fast as you’d like it, but it will.  Try shifting your focus to Him through it all.

Stop for just a moment and think on this question:  What type of fruit are you bearing?

Take an honest look in the mirror and answer truthfully.  Do more negatives tend to come out of your mouth than positives?  Do you mullygrub (as I heard a country pastor describe it once before) about all the things that are wrong in your life?  Are you honestly bearing bad fruit at this point in your life?  You know you can make a change.  Decide today that you no longer want to live defeated, depressed, and in a negative mindset.  Begin finding something positive in the situation that you’d normally complain about and watch how things improve in your life.  Even if it’s just your outlook that changes, it has to have an impact on those around you, too.  They will begin seeing different fruits coming from your tree of life.  Then they will want what you have, and ultimately that is our goal:  to draw people toward CHRIST!

Think about it!

 

Who Do You Think You Are?

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As we begin today with this bible verse, read it slowly and allow it to soak in completely:

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he … 

Proverbs 23:7 NKJV

Just who do you think you are?  Honestly, what type of opinion do you have of yourself?  If you have low self esteem and low self confidence, you will most certainly be down on yourself a great deal.  If you are a perfectionist, you will feel as if you cannot do anything right because of the pressure you are putting on yourself.  Maybe you have had a long, hard road in life that has left you a little bitter.  The thing is not to stay there!   Bad things happen to good people.  We have already established that.  Just because you’re going through trials does not mean that you have to remain in a negative mindset.

Change your thoughts, and you can change your life.

If you are constantly in a negative frame of mind, you will be down and no one will want to hang around someone that is always down in the dumps.  If you flip that switch in your brain and try to look at the positives in the situation, it will literally change your outlook and your life!  People will be drawn to you because of the change that you’ve made and how upbeat you now are.

God does not want you to live a life of negativity.  You are to guard your heart and your mind.  Realize that if your thoughts are full of negative things or if you’re full of greed, jealousy, or lustful thoughts, you’re not following the path that God would have you on.  You have taken a detour some where along the way if your thoughts go to things of that nature.  Repent, turn from your ways, and get yourself back on track.  Then you can focus on God’s plan for your life.

So just who do you think you are?  I know that you’re one of God’s chosen ones.  God loves you completely and unconditionally no matter what you’ve done or how low you have gone in your life.  Without a shadow of a doubt, I know there is hope for you to make a lasting change.  I believe in YOU.  Now it’s time for you to believe in yourself.  You are a child of God!

Vow today that you are going to change your thought process.  No matter what happens, try to find some small positive in the situation.  It’s hard when we’ve been blindsided by things in this life, but pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and turn to God knowing that He works everything for the good of those that love the Lord and believe in Him.

A Winnable War

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You may be in battle right now with thoughts in your head, but you are also in a winnable war.  Let that sink in for a moment.  Yes, you have all of these thoughts that rush in taking you on a negative path.  You spiral down and feel out of control at times.  You’re tempted and feel weak in the flesh.  BUT take heart … God is right there beside you to ensure that you are not tempted beyond what you can handle.  He is there to ensure that you can maintain your composure and self control so that you do no fall into sin.

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.

 And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  

But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out.

1 Corinthians 10:13

Even Jesus was tempted, but He did NOT give into temptation.  So don’t give me the excuse that you couldn’t control yourself.  YES YOU CAN!  You just have to choose to do the right thing no matter if you’re in plain sight or where you think no one can see you.  Know this:  GOD SEES ALL!

Fight the good fight and resist temptation.  You CAN win this war.  The battle that is going on between your ears in that head of yours, it IS a winnable war.  Ask God to help you when you stumble into a situation where you are tempted so that you resist sin, maintain your integrity, and are a person of good morals, value, and character.

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